Mister Nobody – Part 37 | The Road Leads Back to You

Ròs House, Scotland – May 26th, 2018

Orin McCain was a bizarre and yet very courteous man. He had been a professional master of ceremonies for almost thirty years now and, after officiating hundreds of betrothing rituals, he was recognized as one of the most prepared handfasting experts in Scotland. The old ceremony had been living a second youth, as many couples wanted to experience a practice including a more profound communication not only with one another, but also with Mother Nature.

However, Michael saw everything from his personal and peculiar point of view. When he had realized that he intended to marry Lisa again, he was also very much aware of the fact that, considering their current situation – or better, his current predicament – a traditional wedding was impossible. Technically, it was best for Ethan Murphy not to get married at all. Ever. His new identity was flawless, and he had no reason to fear anything and anyone, but it was always best to let sleeping dogs lie, mainly because he would not be marrying a Miss Nobody. The commoner role was taken, and it was all his, for once.

Plus, some things were just inevitable. Marrying Lisa through a legal, official wedding would mean becoming an integral part of the Presley’s world. It could mean a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement. It would mean lawyers and accountants involved, and many feathers would be ruffled. Michael didn’t care about that – he had already arranged that, if something ever happened to him, his money and assets would go to Lisa and his kids. All of them, included Kellan. It didn’t matter that Michael hadn’t told her, not to freak her out, knowing well that her trauma of losing him the first time around was too raw still: Lisa, his woman, partner and soulmate, would know what to do with what was his, better than any lawyer or estate. Michael was sure of that. His heart told him that. His horrifying previous experiences did, too.

And as far as Lisa’s assets, whatever they were… Well, they didn’t matter. Things hadn’t changed since 1994, in that department. Michael didn’t want Lisa’s money, he didn’t care about EPE, and sure as hell no longer cared about business. The only thing he wanted, was to have his family and live a serene life with his woman and their kids. The last thing he and Lisa needed, was to become once again the victims of the same external interferences that had so profoundly damaged their marriage the first time around. When too much power was involved and too many mouths ate from the same plate, the underdog, the last puppy reaching for the bowl, was always bound to end up with his throat ripped open.

Although Michael was still more powerful than anyone could believe, he didn’t even want to risk being that underdog. And he’d be damned if he let Kellan or Lisa get in the crossfire of any parasites’ power struggle. He had learned his lesson, and so had Lisa.

At the same time, Michael also felt the need to give Lisa, their baby, and himself, the stability they desired and deserved. Not only Michael knew that Lisa craved the solidity of a committed relationship and that she was not the “dating” type, but more like the “marrying” type, but also that their timing had always been off about that, too, in the past. When she had tried to stop the divorce, the first time around, he was too hurt and proud to trust her again. When he was ready to start again, clean slate, it had been Lisa who had recoiled, feeling too insecure. What a motherfucking, piece of shit timing they had bestowed again and again upon each other.

Well, no more. Lisa was ready and Michael was, too. The only thing he needed, was to find the perfect way to obtain what he wanted. So, he had started looking through the various types of different “alternative unity ceremonies”: from the tree planting ritual to the Chord of Tree Strands, he had worked his ass off for several months trying to come up with the right idea. And eventually, he had.

Since his and Lisa’s love had blossomed again in Scotland, and Scotland was now their new home, Michael had started looking through the ancient rituals of the area, and had discovered the beautiful handfasting ceremony: he had studied it thoroughly and had found it to be the perfect unity ritual for Lisa and himself. A great way to add an extra layer of meaning to an emotional and physical connection that had proved to be eternal and shatterproof. The ancient Celtic tradition symbolized the binding together of two people, the union of their hopes and desires, their free will to enter the marriage through a specific, typical pattern that, factually, could take the place of a “traditional” wedding.

And that was what Michael wanted.

When he had proposed to Lisa, and she had made him a happy man by saying yes, Michael had actively started looking for the best officiant on the market. And he had found Orin McCain: a 6.5 feet tall man weighing more than 265 libs, with the most open smile and the sweetest disposition, the most roaring laugh and the most impressive braid Michael had ever seen, Orin would be nothing but perfect as a master of ceremonies. And, today, he was going to have two wedding functions: he would welcome the guests and entertain them through the reception, adding flair and uniqueness to the event and acting like a real host; and he would work with the property’s staff behind the scenes, knitting it all together.

It was nice not to have to worry about anything but his own performance, for once. Michael was happy the creative direction was in someone else’s hands, today.

Michael stared at Orin through the massive French doors of the dependence he had been relegated to, since he hadn’t been allowed to spend the previous night with Lisa, and grinned. Orin, wearing his traditional kilt, was chatting animatedly with a quite rigid-looking Priscilla, and Michael laughed up his sleeve. This was too funny. So funny, in fact, that for a moment Michael forgot how tense and nervous he was.

His anxiety was probably a bit contagious, too, because as he kept staring at the preparations taking place in the vast park surrounding the property, he noticed a very stiff Marcus walking by. Oh, the gardener was dressed to kill, today, with his perfect three-piece suit, but by the way he tugged at the collar of his shirt and scratched the back of his neck, it was apparent that he didn’t feel comfortable in formal attire. Once again, Michael chuckled. Poor Marcus.

“What you laughing at? Are you getting hysterical now?”.

Janet’s voice made Michael blink and he turned around, staring at his sister. She wore a beautiful powder blue sleeveless dress and looked remarkably refreshed. And calm. Obviously: it wasn’t she, who was going to get married!

“I’m not getting hysterical, Dunk. I was just looking at… Whatever, never mind”, Michael shook his head and shrugged, walking back to the center of the bedroom. “Did you see Lisa?”.

“Yes, I did, and why do you care? It’s none of your business. Why aren’t you ready, yet?”.

“Why are you, already?”.

“Because the wedding’s gonna happen in less than two hours”.

“And?”.

“And you’re still wearing your jammies”. Janet rolled her eyes.

“Actually, I was thinking about going out there like this”, Michael pointed at the garden behind his back.

“Gosh, my brother is a moron…”, Janet turned around and motioned to leave. Michael giggled.

“Come on, now! I feel tense, I’m just trying to keep it light, here…”, he threw her a reprimanding look, “…And you’re not helping”.

“No, I am helping, even if you don’t deserve it. I am here to tell you that the barber is in the main room, waiting for you”.

Michael frowned.

“Can you please tell me again why I agreed to subject myself to… how did you call them?”.

“Pre-wedding grooming essentials…”.

“Yeah. Why?”.

“Because you’re the groom. And on your wedding day, you’re expected to look better than your best. And although I gotta admit that so far you did a pretty good job taking care of yourself, I just want to remind you that there’s only a thin line between the sexy bearded guy and the unkempt, stinky lumberjack. Therefore, you need to be groomed properly”.

Michael’s frown deepened.

“Well, I can shave and groom all by myself, Janet. I’m a big boy now. Plus, Lisa likes me just the way I am”.

“Look, Mike – I really don’t wanna ruin your festive moment with my ‘tude, here, but you’re all wired, keep bouncing up and down, your hands are shaking, and I’m afraid you’re gonna do some major damage with the razor if someone doesn’t help you out, OK?”.

Michael opened his mouth, ready to go with a snarky reply, and even a pretty vulgar one at that, but then Paris appeared in the door frame.

“Dad?”.

Michael smiled and his demeanor changed instantly.

“Yes, baby”.

“The barber’s waiting for you”.

“Tell him I’ll be there in a minute, sweetheart. You look gorgeous, by the way”.

Michael ignored Janet rolling her eyes again and kept smiling, as Paris walked over to him and kissed him sweetly on the cheek. She wore a striking pink dress that enhanced her beautiful complexion and bright eyes, her long hair down on her shoulders.

“Daddy, I think you should get dressed. It’s almost time, and Lisa… well…”, she bit her lip and smiled, “I’m not gonna say anything, only that she’ll look stunning. You’ll see by yourself”.

“I’m sure she will, Paris. She always does”, Michael smiled. “And I hope I’ll measure up”.

Paris framed his face and turned it one way, then the other, inspecting it.

“As long as you pull a neater and altogether less lumberjacky version of that beard and comb those curls properly, I guess you’ll be fine. I mean, this sorta-kinda scruffiness looks great on you, it adds gravitas to your face but… I think it’s best if you go for a professional shave… at least for today. You don’t wanna look like a hobo on your wedding day, dad, do ya?”.

Michael’s brow furrowed and he blinked.

“What the heck? I don’t look scruffy at all…”, he sighed, dejectedly, “…OK… Where’s the man? Let’s get this over with…”.

Prestonfield House, Edinburgh. A week earlier

Lisa struggled to speak and, when she finally made it, her voice came out as raspy as sandpaper.

“Baby… you found the swankiest, sexiest, most swoon-some suite imaginable…”, her fingers tangled in Michael’s hair, on the back of his head, while her other hand roamed down and landed on his firm ass, pulling him into her. “…Shit…”.

Not that she had had the pleasure of exploring the room properly, so far, since at the moment she was pressed against the red velvet tapestried wall near the door, Michael’s lips on her neck, his hands already roaming under her blouse, unclasping her bra. It all felt like a bit of a deja-vu of their wild days after their divorce, when they would baptize hotel room after hotel room with their unstoppable passion. And this was, in a way, another baptism of fire, since it was going to be their first time making love after the birth of their baby.

“I’m glad you like it…”, Michael spoke breathlessly, in between kisses, “I thought you’d find those swags… and columns… and brocades… and velvets… just so shamelessly seductive…”.

Lisa’s low chuckle reverberated in her chest and Michael trembled against her body, smiling. His precise, sophisticated vocabulary, coupled with his dirty attitude, always made a number on her. And he was so aroused, so unbelievably hard already, that his head was buzzing. He could distinctly hear his heartbeat thumping in his ears.

“Not that we need any encouragement but… I agree… It’s all so irrepressibly romantic… in a husky-throated boudoir sort of way…”. Lisa reached down and in between their bodies and found what she was looking for. “Damn… I also love these… intimate corners… they’re so… wildly opulent…”.

Michael giggled against her skin and nipped at it sensually, all the while pushing his hips forward, against Lisa’s palm. She was already busy unzipping his fly. His kisses lowered just as he started unbuttoning her blouse and she gasped.

“Weren’t we supposed to wait until our wedding night, for this?”, she panted. But didn’t stop him.

Michael’s lips roamed up again and reached her mouth, and they kissed, slowly, deeply, passionately. He held her chin with his fingers, angling his head, looking for more access.

When he pulled back to reply, he did it almost imperceptibly, his eyes closed.

“That was the plan, yeah… but I don’t think I can wait any longer… Two and a half months without having you the way I wanna have you… I’m sorry, baby girl…”. Another slow, deep kiss and Lisa’s arms wrapped tighter around his shoulders.

“Oh, but daddy… don’t be sorry… Because I am not…”.

He picked her up effortlessly and, still kissing her, started walking through the main room and to the bedroom, where a huge Gothic four-poster bed, dark and richly colored with lashings of velvet and silk, was just waiting to be deflowered by their firestorm. The suite Michael had chosen was the perfect setting for their burning passion. Every corner was lavishly furnished with riotously rococo pieces. Drama, theater, romance and concupiscence hung heavily in the air and minimalism was nowhere to be seen. The less is more concept did not apply: in this case, more was definitely more.

When Michael’s phone rang, he groaned and stilled mid-step, in the center of the room, his lips still on Lisa’s. Without breaking the kiss, she read his mind and reached down, retrieving the phone from the back pocket of his pants. She pulled back from Michael’s mouth with immense effort, her legs still wrapped around his waist.

“Hello… Hi, Denise… Yes, It’s Lisa…”.

Michael’s eyebrows sprung up. The nanny. He stood perfectly still, his chest rising and falling rapidly, studying Lisa’s face for a moment.

“No, you called the right number, he’s just… a bit busy right now. Yeah…”.

“Oh, I’m busy alright…”, Michael whispered, and then resumed kissing Lisa’s neck, already intoxicated by the scent of her skin, by her taste. He was in full Neanderthal mode and had serious problems controlling himself. His gentleman veneer could only go so far.

Lisa squirmed and placed the palm of her hand on Michael’s forehead, pushing him back and biting down on her bottom lip not to laugh. He grinned, cockily, his hips thrusting up and into Lisa, rotating slowly. She closed her eyes for a moment and swallowed. Damn him and his dancer tricks! How could they still work so well after all those years?

“Is the baby OK? Do you need us? …Alright. Oh… you’re so sweet, Denise. Yes, my checkup went very well, thank you so much. I’m fine…”.

Michael’s hands on her ass caressed, stroked her through her trousers. “So fucking fine… she has no idea…”.

Lisa rolled her eyes and grabbed his chin, pulling at his beard. “Stop it!”, she warned him in a whisper, smirking, all the while melting under his touch. “…When are we gonna be home?”, she looked at Michael, interrogatively, and he just shrugged.

“A few hours?”, he mouthed, his hips moving up and against her once again. Lisa wanted to strangle him. No: that was a lie. She just wanted to fuck the daylights out of him.

“A few hours,” she spoke as casually as she could. “We have some… ah, errands to run but we’ll be back before dinner, for sure…”.

Reassured by the fact that their baby was okay, and that everything was under control, Michael resumed sauntering toward the bedroom, utterly unperturbed by the fact that Lisa was still busy talking to the nanny.

Lisa had to smile. All the while, she kept making up a story about some non-existent errands when, in fact, after her successful 6-week postpartum checkup Michael had deviated from the route they were supposed to take to go back home and driven straight to the south-eastern outskirts of the city, instead. Right to the Baroque-Georgian hotel set in twenty acres of garden and parkland. Of course, he had booked a suite without telling her. Typical Michael. Yet again, the hotel was only half an hour away from home, just in case Kellan needed them. And that, too, was typical Michael.

“Yes, don’t worry about it… Of course, you can have dinner whenever you want, you don’t have to wait for us… Just ask Miss Emma to cook something for you. Whatever you want… Yes, sure. You’re welcome. Please, kiss Kellan for his mommy and daddy… and thanks again for checking in on me. No, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that we wouldn’t be back right away after my checkup… it’s just… Something came up…”, she wiggled her hips against Michael’s crotch and arched an eyebrow, suggestively. “…Yeah. No problem. Bye, Denise… See you later”.

She pushed the red button on the touchscreen and tossed the phone on the plush wall-to-wall carpeting covering the floor. Then she grabbed Michael’s head with both hands and kissed him passionately, and one single stroke of her tongue was enough to make him moan and shiver.

Michael stood by the bed, and Lisa’s fingers slid down, from his face to his neck.

“Undress me…”. One more kiss, her words barely breathed, their urgency palpable. “…Fuck me…”.

“Lisa Marie… I’ve met an – ah – interesting man…outside…”, Priscilla walked into the bedroom, looking a bit perplexed. “…He says he’s going to officiate the wedding”.

Lisa, wearing a silk robe and standing perfectly still under the skillful touch of the make-up artist, half-opened her eyes.

“Oh, you met Orin. Yes, he’s the master of ceremonies. Great guy, charming and funny, don’t you think?”.

“He is…”, Priscilla sat down at the foot of the bed and clasped her hands in her lap, all the while twisting a napkin. “…Peculiar. You’re always surrounded by very… curious people… He was talking to the trees when I… um, left him”.

Lisa repressed a chuckle. Her mother looked so out of her element, and so anxious. Lisa wasn’t sure if it was a good or a bad thing. Honestly, she didn’t even care that much. Although she agreed with Michael when he said that they needed as many allies as they could muster, they both had also decided to stop depending on other people’s opinion. The only thing that mattered was their family.

Lisa’s eyes met her reflection in the mirror as the make-up artist applied her final touches. She had decided to stick to her classic: her wedding day was not the right time to experiment. The last thing she wanted, was to look like a panda bear. So, she had opted for simplicity: radiant skin, rosy cheeks, flushed lips and some definition on her eyes. And waterproof mascara – that had been a no-brainer. She wanted her makeup to be perfect for Michael, aware of how perceptive he was to every detail. She wanted her entire outfit to exude the right intensity without looking overdone. Only that way it would be able to express how she felt: overwhelmed and full of wonderment. Everything felt new and predestined at the same time. She needed everything to be flawless. Because she and Michael deserved it.

“…the media, Lisa Marie?”.

Lisa’s blue gaze shifted to her mother.

“I’m sorry, what?”.

“I said: what are you going to do with the media? I believe they know what’s going to happen here… There are at least three reporters outside the property. I counted”.

“Mother… three reporters are not that many, all things considered. Maybe you don’t remember how it was when-”, she bit her tongue, realizing that the make-up artist obviously had no idea who Ethan Murphy was. “…how it was in the past.”

“Actually, I do remember. Very well”. Priscilla set her jaw.

OK, maybe she did. The helicopters flying over her house, the press calling her, asking her if her daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, had indeed gotten married to Michael Jackson. So many years earlier. At that time, Priscilla hadn’t known anything about Lisa and Michael’s little escapade to the Dominican Republic. She hadn’t known about their wedding. She hadn’t known about their pregnancy. And when she had, she had been shocked. Then she had gotten mad. And then, the war had begun. One of the many Lisa and Michael had to fight through the years. From the inside. From the outside. Everywhere. It was a minefield – surviving was impossible, it didn’t matter how many layers of bulletproof vests they would wear.

Priscilla was different now. Lisa knew that what had happened in 2009 had given her mother a pretty good idea of the lows her daughter could reach, without Michael. With Michael gone forever. The horrible, disgusting experience with Lockwood – a man that the older Presley had appreciated, cherished, to an extent even chosen as her ally for so long – had been the last nail in the coffin. Cilla had finally accepted that although Michael would never be able to melt her heart altogether, he was the man who made her only daughter truly happy. Truly complete. Michael was, indeed, Lisa’s undying love. Somehow, Priscilla had learned to deal with it, to open the door enough to perceive Michael’s intense beauty. And she saw it, now. Lisa suspected her mother now pretended to dislike Michael more than she really did. But above all, Priscilla knew that she could no longer intrude: Lisa’s and Michael’s relationship didn’t involve anyone but them, and they were blocking out every interference anyway. Because of that, a bit reluctantly, Priscilla had backed off.

“OK… here’s how we’re dealing with the press, again. We spread the rumor that you guys are all here because we’re throwing a party for Kellan. That’s it. We don’t need to say anything else, let them think that we’re baptizing him… or whatever it is that they want to think about what we’re doing here… let ‘em think that I’ve been reconnecting with Michael’s kids… which is true, by the way. It’s fine. The point is that none of us really cares, mom, so you shouldn’t either… And anyway, the paps are outside the property because they hope they can get another glimpse of the baby, after those pictures they took in Edinburgh last week, when we were there for his checkup… The rags were quiet for a while, but of course are in a frenzy now… you’re here, Janet and baby Eissa are here, my kids are here, Prince, Paris and Bigi are here… hell, even Alicia’s here! What did you expect, mother?”.

“Nothing. You’re right, Lisa Marie. I just hope the extra security team you have hired for the occasion will be able to fend them off, if they try to sneak in. Don’t get me wrong, Lisa Marie, but I’m glad Harper and Finley are still in Los Angeles… I think it’s best for them”.

Lisa took a deep breath. She missed her twins. She wanted to have them there. But Priscilla was probably right. They were still confused about what had been going on between their parents, and seeing their mom getting married to a guy they had spent only a few days with, would probably be detrimental at the moment. Plus, they had to go to school. Lisa pacified herself by remembering that Harper and Finley would be moving to Scotland permanently, in a month or so. And she and Michael would have all the time in the world to rebuild the perfect life the girls deserved.

“Do you have any idea of the speculations, Lisa Marie? I’m talking about the baby. Have you had the chance to take a look at the news, online?”.

“Barely, mother. As you know, we try not to depend on external opinions so much…”, Lisa hoped her tone conveyed the right message. She knew very well what Priscilla was talking about. Kellan’s pictures had been creating a buzz. But this was not the time to even remotely consider what “the people on social media” might think about their half-black baby boy.

Priscilla sighed and shook her head. “I have no idea how you guys can be so calm. Honestly, I don’t even know how you manage to survive, with only two guys at the gate and nobody else”.

“Survive? Mom, what are you talking about? We don’t need security here. Nobody’s hunting us. This is not Los Angeles… thank goodness”. Since the make-up artist had finished her job, Lisa rose from the chair and walked over to the bed, sitting next to her mother. She took her hand. “Mom… Please, try to relax and be happy… at least for today”.

“But I am, Lisa Marie…”. Priscilla’s eyes widened, then lowered on their joined hands. She took a deep breath. “I am happy… for you and him. I just want you to have the life you deserve. And if he… if he is the man you truly want to be with, I’m by your side. And his, too”.

“He’s always been that man, mother… you know that”.

Priscilla hesitated for a moment, then nodded and patted Lisa’s hand.

“OK then… Good. Go get dressed… it’s almost time. And I want to see you with that beautiful dress on”.

Lisa was indeed about to get up when Benjamin entered the room, holding Kellan in his arms. The mere sight of those two together melted Lisa’s heart instantly. In fact, the sight of any of the kids – hers or Michael’s – with the baby was a sight to behold. Just by existing, the little man had the power to create a bridge between two very different families, and they had somehow become one. Kellan was everyone’s baby brother. He was the nephew. He was the grandson. He was the son. He was the living miracle or, as Lisa and Michael loved to call him, the impossible made possible. How could such a tiny creature be so powerful? And it was not only because he was mighty cute. His influence ran much deeper than that.

Kellan was now holding onto a strand of Ben’s hair, but his half-brother didn’t seem to mind. He was also wiggling his cute little legs as Ben gently bounced him in his arms. At almost two months, Kellan was now flashing that adorable gummy grin that could easily disarm an entire army. His huge eyes would brighten and widen as he moved his mouth upward, showing the world his first, genuine smiles – and those dimples that were all Michael’s. He would, in fact, smile all the time – he was such a happy kid. It was clear that he felt loved. And for a good reason: he was loved. Michael and Lisa had waited for him for a lifetime.

Kellan’s eyes found Lisa, and he squealed with delight.

“Here’s your mommy, Kel… Say hi now, ‘cause in a minute or two you won’t be able to kiss her any longer… at least for a little while…”, Benjamin spoke in a soft, yet very normal tone. He kissed the baby’s dark curls. “…We don’t wanna mess her makeup and hairdo, do we?”.

“Come here, beautiful boy… Come to your mama…”. Lisa reached over and Kellan smiled that perfect little smile of his, his chubby hands waving in excitement and trying to touch Lisa’s face. She held the back of his head in her hand and kissed his forehead.

More delighted cooing ensued and he pulled at her long hair.

“I don’t know why, but he’s being unusually wormy today”, Ben observed, giggling.

“Yeah, I can see that… he’s usually pretty calm, but don’t be fooled: he can also be a little squib when he wants to”, Lisa smirked at Benjamin, “It must be all the excitement in the air, considering that he should already be napping, by now”.

Ben shrugged.

“To be fair, he had fallen asleep in his dad’s arms a little while ago, but then woke up again as I was carrying him to his nursery…. So…”, he sighed, “…here we are…”. It was clear that he had no idea how to calm down Kellan’s uncanny outbursts of joy, and Lisa’s smile widened.

“Alright, Ben… let me-”.

“No, wait… I’ll do it”. Priscilla held out her arms. She took the baby from Benjamin’s arms and immediately kissed his head, starting to pace back and forth in the room, gently whispering to him. “Come here, baby… come to grandma… oh my goodness, what a handsome little man you are… look at that beautiful toothless smile”.

Kellan watched his grandmother and drooled, then wiggled his arms some more and let out a small cry of pure happiness.

Lisa just stared at Priscilla for a moment, in complete amazement, and felt Ben’s hand rubbing her back lovingly. Yeah. Kellan was a miracle, indeed. The biggest peacemaker in the world – another trait he had inherited from his dad. No doubt about that.

“Come on, mom… put on that kickass dress. I really wanna see how stunning you’re gonna look”, Benjamin spoke directly into Lisa’s ear. “It’s almost time to make an honest man out of Mike… again”.

She looked down, and the sight of Michael’s face buried in between her legs seriously threatened her sanity. The way he was taking her, loving her. She was exploding from the inside. She had become a human grenade or, even better, a set of grenades, detonating in a string of melodies and colors wherever he touched her. And he knew how to touch her just right. Even his fingers moved as if he was playing her like a musical instrument, creating the perfect notes.

Lisa didn’t even remember how they had ended up in that sinful four-poster bed, eventually. Her mind had become a blur the moment Michael had put her down and had undressed her, leaving her naked, not an inch of fabric on. And he hadn’t even done it in a hurry – quite the opposite, in fact. He had taken his time, discarding garment after garment, worshiping every single inch of naked skin he discovered, as if he was seeing her for the first time. The sweetest torture imaginable. All the while, drugged by his kisses, Lisa had managed to unbutton his shirt and push it off his shoulders, her fingernails scraping his muscular back, as she delighted in the goosebumps she detected wherever she touched. She had then reached down and in between their bodies, finding him so hard, so ready. She had touched him ever so slightly, the back of her hand running across his length through the fabric of his underwear, delighted by his shuddering.

Michael’s words hushed, as if he was telling her a secret. His passion palpable both in his voice and his silence as he spoke in between kisses, letting her devour him.

“Lie down, girl… let me see you… I wanna see you… I missed you something bad…”. His hands running on her naked thighs. “…God, you’re so beautiful. You don’t know… you really don’t know… my gorgeous woman… I want you so much… all of you…”.

He had shaken his head and trailed off, as if he was talking to himself, his eyes transfixed on her body. Lisa had never felt so exposed to his penetrating gaze. Michael was magnetic, and the touch of his eyes was enough to make her burn for hours. Enough to make her come. He didn’t even need to touch her.

And yet she wanted him to touch her – more than anything else in the world, in that very moment. With his hands, his body, his lips, his cock.

She lay down on her back as he still stood by the bed, torso naked, pants unbuttoned but still on, only lowered on his hips. His proud, massive erection visible through the soft, dark fabric of his briefs.

Lisa remembered every single detail, as if she was staring at a Polaroid picture – only, in motion.

The way the reddish light of the room made his skin look almost unreal. The lines and twitching of his muscles, his hair wild. The way his beautiful hands caressed her, creating a wonderland from her calves to her waist, his body bending over hers like a willow tree grazing the dew, on the grass. His lips on her stomach, his tongue and teeth on her pelvic bones. She had arched up and into him, looking for more contact, more friction, more heat.

Holing up into that hotel room for a few hours, just to finally make love without any interruptions, had indeed been a genius idea. Steamy, passionate sex was everything they needed, and not because of the physical act in itself – although that would always mean a pleasure so intense that words could hardly describe it. Sex, the material manifestation of their relationship, was one of the many threads woven into the perfect fabric of their story. Lust hid so much more, under its boiling hot surface. The interlacing threads of who they were, too numerous to be counted or disentangled. The complexity and complicity of their souls finding solace in that all-consuming, physical expression of love. In those kisses. In those heated touches.

“Take off them damn clothes, Mike… please…”, Lisa had swallowed, her hands finding him, their fingers entwining. Michael had straightened up and stepped closer, positioning himself right in between her parted legs.

“Wait…”, his eyes were roaming, roaming. As if they wanted to take in every detail. He had sunk to his knees, by the bed, the palm of his hand resting on Lisa’s abdomen, just above her sex. He had looked up at her and what she had seen in his dark eyes was a black inferno.

“Can I…?”.

He had seemed to hesitate for the briefest instant. But a nod of her head had been a more than satisfying answer and now there she was, arching up again, her feet caressing his back, her moans getting louder and louder. She touched her breasts, cupping them with her hands and realized that she was sweating. Glancing down at Michael once again, she noted a thin layer of sweat on his shoulders and back, too. Strands of hair had fallen over his forehead and yet she could see how his brow furrowed and relaxed as he kissed her, licked her, explored her with his fingers and his mouth, as if it was the very first time he had her that way. She had already come twice and yet he wouldn’t let up. He was killing her. With pleasure.

Lisa grabbed his hair, on the top of his head, air coming out of her lungs in quick gasps.

“Holy shit… please… stop… stop…”. She felt him smile against her, his warm breath caressing her ultra-sensitive skin.

“You sure you want me to stop?”. Michael’s voice was raspy, throaty, very thick. He licked her one last time, slowly, carefully, and she whimpered, her pelvis jerking in a sudden spasm. Then he looked up, staring at her. That sexy little grin didn’t do anything to tame her arousal.

“Come up here… I want to kiss you… touch you… hold you…”. Lisa’s hands grasped his shoulders and he slid up her body, skin against skin, making her shiver. Her mouth found him and they kissed thoroughly. All the while, she pushed down his pants and underwear, and he finally took them off, letting them fall on the floor.

“You taste like heaven, Lise… everywhere…”. Oh, he did too. Lisa knew that, very well. Michael wrapped her leg around his waist and pushed his hips against her slippery wetness. His grinding movements intoxicating.

“I need to feel you inside…”.

Her fingers traced the contour of his perfect face, and she lifted her head from the pillow, kissing his neck, licking his salty skin, the tip of her tongue finding his afternoon stubble, rough to the touch, right above his Adam’s apple. She was a bit tense, knowing well that feeling him like that again would be taxing, in a way. She was aware that being loved by Michael meant being stretched to the extreme, on so many levels. Yet, just by looking at him, just by feeling the skin on skin contact of their bodies, she realized that she wanted nothing more than being filled by him again, thoroughly. It didn’t matter if pleasure would border on pain. Lisa was sure that, in the end, she would jump into the light. She was sure of the blinding ecstasy waiting for her, for them. And, judging from the way he pulsed and throbbed, as he moved rhythmically against her center, she was also aware that he needed this as much as she did. The way the muscles of his stomach tightened under her, hard. The way he pushed against her once again, almost delicately, and yet it was impossible, for her, not to feel his sharp desire.

“Put it in, Mike… please… Take me…”. She spoke and her anxiety just slipped away, the desire to have him too intense. He felt it, too, and bit his lip in concentration as he guided himself into her. He didn’t ask her if she was sure. He didn’t ask her if she wanted to wait some more. He knew the answer. He just found her and entered her slowly, as daintily as he could, keeping his eyes open, staring at her.

Lisa wrapped one arm around his neck, the other stroking his back, landing on his firm ass, feeling the way it tensed as he pushed in some more. Loving the contact, as it allowed her to feel him both inside and outside. Michael was everywhere. He always had been. That was his place. He couldn’t be dethroned.

“Yes… fuck… oh, yeah…”. She gasped and her eyes rolled back for a moment. She swallowed and focused on his face once again. Michael tossed his head slightly, as if he needed to get rid of the lust buzzing in his mind like a hornets’ nest. She could tell he was exerting maximum control over himself.

Lisa’s head sank back into the pillows and she unraveled under his touch. She whimpered and Michael stilled, breathing heavily through his mouth. Her hand on his ass pulled him in, once again.

“Do it… do it…”. Her look was one of hunger.

Michael closed his eyes and sank his hips into her, penetrating her fully. They both moaned at the same time. Lisa, for the size of him and the feeling of being so utterly filled, the taste of rapture already perceptible in her nerve endings. Michael, for her tightness and pulsing heat wrapping around him, burning him, making him feel lost and found at the same time, made and unmade like a star pulverizing in the darkness.

Their bodies locked and he stood still for a moment, inhaling deeply, swallowing. Lisa saw him bite down on his bottom lip. Then he opened his eyes again and stared at her.

“Baby…I think I’mma pass out”.

“Mike… God… You gotta move… Let me feel you…”, her breath ragged, she pushed her pelvis up and into him, and he let out a soft moan. His eyes still transfixed into hers, their comforting darkness hypnotic and tantalizing, he bent his head and kissed her lips, his tongue stroking against hers, ever so slightly. Instinctively, in a reflex move, Lisa’s muscles clenched around him and he winced. That was his power. Making her come undone with one single touch. That was her power, too.

She felt her body struggle to accommodate him fully and it was the sweetest pain imaginable. Once again, she let out a sob and her hips rocked up and, this time, he pulled back and then forward again, more decidedly. Lisa’s grasp on his ass tightened, her loud moan startled him. His eyes widened.

“You OK? Am I hurting you?”. Michael was breathless, a thin layer of sweat covered his forehead and temples, the nape of his neck. Lisa caressed his face and smiled.

“You hurt me so good… please don’t ever stop…”.

“Lise… fuck…”.

And then he moved again, plundering her so thoroughly that, for a moment, she felt invaded. Not only physically, but emotionally, too. She loved him so much. She had loved him all along. And as she looked down, where they were joined, the sight of him driving into her, her skin bare and exposed, turned her on even more. The soreness was gone. Only pleasure remained.

He picked up speed, alternating knife-like upward thrusts with rotating strokes, and Lisa’s legs locked around his hips. She grabbed his head with both hands, her fingers tangling in his sweaty hair – another detail that always managed to amp up her arousal.

“Am I doing this right?”. Michael’s words came out chopped, ragged. He spoke without breaking the rhythm of their dance.

“Damn… oh, yeah… oh, damn…”. Lisa pulled his head down and kissed him. “…I think we should try several positions…”.

“Just to be sure you really are OK?”. Even with her eyes closed, she knew he was smiling.

“Yeah…”.

“Yeah…”.

Michael had to admit that the barber Janet had hired took his job very seriously. The guy had at first scrutinized him thoroughly, then had made him sit in a chair and had stood right before him, his brow furrowed, looking at him severely. Michael had blinked, enraptured by the absolute perfection of the guy’s handlebar mustache, shiny bald head and coral-red suspenders.

“Sir. My name is Todd and I’m here to take care of your look, today”.

“Um… Thank you”. Michael had ignored Janet’s chuckle. She was staring at them from the door frame. She looked utterly amused.

“You’re welcome. Keyword today’s gonna be: studly”.

“OK…?”.

“Hair’s fine… But how long have you had this… beard?”. Todd had barely concealed a disapproving look.

“Six, seven years… more or less. Why?”.

“Not that it’s bad, don’t get me wrong… But I can tell you still haven’t learned how to take care of it properly, sir”.

“…I understand”.

“It’s not just about growing it. It’s about tailoring it. You see, a wild, unkempt beard might showcase your manliness, but it’s not doing you any favors in the all-around approachable department. The better route is to keep your face fur in check. Your bride’s going to love it. Stunning lady, by the way, sir”.

Michael had appreciated Todd’s serious, solemn tone. He liked professional commitment. He had tilted his chin up and had watched the barber with a grave look on his face.

“By all means, Todd. Proceed”.

And Todd had indeed proceeded. First he had washed Michael’s beard with a special shampoo, then he had conditioned it to help soften it. Then again, it had dried it and brushed it. He had taken his clippers and trimmed it, giving the whole thing more shape, aiming a longer guard around Michael’s chin and a shorter one at his cheeks and temples. Finally, Todd had trimmed Michael’s neckline, mumbling that “the neckbeard had to go”. Eventually, the new style had successfully managed to accentuate the natural lines and angles of Michael’s face, with shorter sides and a bit more length on the chin.

Fine. Michael had to admit that Janet’s “grooming essentials” had indeed been a great idea.

Now, as he stared at himself in the mirror, his heartbeat drumming in his chest, glancing at the clock and noticing that in less than thirty minutes the wedding ceremony would begin, Michael recognized himself and didn’t know who that guy in the reflection was, all at once. It was the usual, uncanny feeling. Only, this time it had nothing to do with his appearance. He looked pretty good for a middle-aged dude: hair slicked back, curly on the back and the sides, tidy face.

He had asked everyone to just leave the room as he got dressed. That, was something he could do without any help. Carefully, he had taken garment after garment out of the closet, laying them down, one by one, on the bed. Knowing Lisa’s taste, and also aware of his own possessiveness, he wanted to stand out and firmly solidify that he, and nobody else, was without a shadow of a doubt the groom.

He had opted for a total-black statement wedding suit: a tailored black tuxedo with satin covered lapels and trims throughout the jacket, a black wingtip shirt with a black bow-tie, a waistcoat and classic black trousers, black shoes.

The entire outfit showed beautiful elements – lapel facing, pocket trims and button coverings were all in satin, and the nuance of black Michael had chosen looked phenomenal, exuding power, potency, dominance. To pull off the overall look that would allow him to shine the best in black, Micheal had concentrated on details with maximum care. The boutonniere – a single white rose – was just one of many. The vintage pocket watch was another one. Then there were the studs, the cufflinks, the white pocket square.

He was ready. Body and soul.

Michael was still staring at himself in the mirror when he heard a knock on the door. He barely registered it.

“Come in…”, he replied, almost absently.

Alicia’s face appeared in the door frame, looking very pale. She just stood there, her eyes bright and huge, and stared at him for what felt like an eternity. Michael just watched her through the reflection in the mirror, knowing that look well. It was clear that Lisa had spoken to her best friend, that she had told Alicia the truth about him.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner but… we needed to be sure… I’m so sorry, Lish”.

“It’s fine… I guess… But why now? Why me?”.

“Because I trust you? Hell, I wanna feel free to tell you exactly how crazy in love I am with this guy I supposedly just met, without downplaying it or sounding like a deranged lunatic. I don’t wanna hold back and I don’t wanna lie, at least not to my best friend… To the rest of the world, I can manage. But I need someone I can openly speak to, and I want it to be you. Michael agrees with me, of course”.

“…Lisa, damn. This is huge”.

“Yes, I know… But better now than never, right?”.

“On your wedding day? Really, Lise? Really?”.

“Well, you arrived last night. When was I supposed to tell you? I didn’t think this was something to be discussed over the phone, you know…”.

“Whatever… Anyway… I could tell that something was off… I hadn’t seen you this in love in a very long time… since Michael, actually. Not the bad one… the good one. It just seemed so weird… plus, I could feel something else was going on… So, you know… maybe part of me was wondering…”.

“Eh… Maybe you weren’t wrong”.

“Well… Shit”.

“At least now it’s out in the open”.

“I don’t know if I wanna punch you or not. But I do know I’m happy for you… and him, obviously… Damn! He’s slick!”.

“He’s a survivor”.

“Yeah, he is. And if I manage to make it through this day without stroking out, I’mma be a survivor, too. What the fuck”.

“You gonna stay there or you gonna come in?”. Michael grinned and turned around, arms hanging by his sides. He cleared his throat.

Lish finally entered the room and carefully closed the door behind her back. She locked it, too, for good measure. Michael hoped she wasn’t there to beat him to a pulp – only God knew what shock could do to a person.

She moved some unsure steps toward him, but didn’t bring herself to get too close. She still looked at Michael as if she had just seen a ghost. Well, in a way she had.

Michael just sighed and, expecting her next request, took off his glasses and placed them on the dresser. Lish’s eyes became huge and she swallowed, hard.

“Michael?”, she croaked out.

“Yes… Hey Alicia”.

He had managed to shut her up. It was not as easy as it looked. She and Lisa shared some interesting personality traits.

Alicia reached for a nearby chair and sat down. She scratched her temple and inhaled a long breath.

Michael started to feel a bit uncomfortable, and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“Lish… I don’t want to sound rude or anything, but… I’m supposed to get married in about twenty-”.

“What the fuck!”.

His eyebrows sprung up in surprise. Then he cocked his head to a side.

“What can I say?”.

She glared at him.

“There’s nothing you can say, at this point”. She paused, looking pensive for a moment.

“You came back for her? As in… deliberately? For real?”.

“Yeah”.

“Because you love her?”.

“Yeah… Can’t you tell?”. Michael opened his arms suggestively, smirking.

“Don’t be a shithead. This is serious. She was a mess. I mean… I could give a fuck who she fucks, as long as she’s happy. But without you… she was devastated. A part of her was just gone”.

He just stepped closer to her and pushed his hands into his pockets.

“I was, too. Without her. That’s why I gladly took the risk. And she’s taking the risk with you, now. I’m sorry, I know this must be overwhelming for you, and I’m sorry if you feel you got caught in the crossfire in some way. But you have to understand… this is not something that Lisa or I wanted. So…”. He just shrugged, not knowing what to say.

As if a burden was being lifted off her shoulders, Lish took a deep breath and her shoulders slumped. She closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head. Then she stood up, moving closer to Michael, watching him intently, her eyes taking in every detail.

“Fuck. It’s you for real. I can’t believe it”. She walked around him, observing him from head to toe. “Damn…”.

Michael rolled his eyes.

Lisa stopped right in front of him and an incredulous smirk spread on her lips.

“This is crazy”.

“Not really. People disappear all the time, Alicia”.

“Yeah, too bad you’re not like everybody else, Michael…”.

“Well, I am now”. He straightened his shoulders, his matter-of-fact tone underlining his words.

“But she isn’t. She’ll never be. That’s what surprises me. You talk about risks like it’s nothing. It’s not! Not in your case! You’re right… people disappear all the time. But usually they don’t come back, unless they have a reason to…”.

“That’s exactly right. And don’t worry about us… we got this. I promise”.

“You guys are out of your mind. Look at you, with that chichi suit on, that shit-eating grin, all ready to get re-married to my best friend like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Only, neither of you guys are normal. How did you manage to keep her so hooked on you, even after all this time, by the way? Does your dick dance?”, she shook her head once again. “No. You know what? I don’t even wanna know. What I’m tryna say is that… This is so fucked up… in the best possible way…”.

Michael giggled. Lish was funny. She had a dirty mouth but a clear mind, despite her rants.

“So… are we good? You OK?”.

She threw her hands in the air and rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, I guess. And I’m gonna be even better after I drink a glass or two”. She motioned to the door. Then, on second thought, she walked back to Michael, grabbed him by the shoulders and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“OK. I’mma head out. I think I need some fresh air. See you later… Ethan”.

Michael, still smirking, just nodded his head and let her go.

Michael loved feeling her weight on him. Lisa was draped over his chest, and her breathing had finally calmed down. It had taken a while. He, too, felt a bit taxed – but so perfectly happy and fulfilled. So sated, inside and out.

If Lisa thought she was the only one having been a little antsy about resuming their intense sex habits after the birth of their son, she was sorely mistaken. Michael, too, had been a bit worried about no longer being desirable to her, of hurting her, of not being able to satisfy her fully. Thankfully, Lisa had proved him wrong. She had done it with each touch, each kiss, each stroke of her tongue, each word of love, lust and reassurance. Michael now felt that the perfection of their relationship was not something that had blossomed with maturity. It had been there all along, within reach, veiled by their stubbornness, their pride, their childish power struggles, their lack of trust in each other, in a love that was so strong to become scary, at times. They had been so afraid – and fear had rendered them blind. They had become unable to see what was there, only waiting for them to reach out. The regret of having lost so much time had a bitter aftertaste that Michael, for a moment, could not ignore.

Then Lisa’s hot lips on his skin interrupted his stream of consciousness. She was kissing his chest, slowly, carefully. Michael could feel her long hair caressing him, like waves lapping at the shoreline. Her fingers followed the route of her mouth, stroking him. The line of his pectorals, his taut stomach, down to his belly. Lower, still. He inhaled deeply and smirked.

“I love you, baby…”, he whispered into her hair, kissing the top of her head. Lisa lifted her head and looked at him. God, she was so beautiful. The afterglow of their steamy, passionate marathon not only reverberating on her skin, but also reflecting in her blue gaze. Her eyes looked glassy and dark, revealing an alluring glint under those hooded eyelids Michael had always been crazy about.

“And I love you. I can’t even tell you how much”. She placed her hand on his chest and propped up on her elbow. Her hair was wild. Michael smirked, and Lisa immediately guessed his thoughts.

“…Yeah, you smile. It’s all your fault. You messed me all up”.

“And I’m proud of it”.

“You should be… even though…”, she bent her head, hovering over his lips and they shared a slow, open-mouthed kiss, “…I showed you who’s the boss”.

“What? Get outta here! You ain’t the boss of me!”, Michael pulled back and snorted. He cocked his eyebrow. “The way I recall it, you couldn’t even speak, up until five minutes ago”.

“Oh, but you spoke…”, another stroke of her tongue and he felt something stirring in his lower region. Again. This was crazy. Someone should have told his dick that he was no longer thirty. “…You spoke so much, Michael…”.

Yeah. It was true. She had tortured him enough to extort some exciting information about the wedding. Things he had not planned to tell her at all. Well, at least not in that very moment. He wanted to wait some more. But he hadn’t been able to contrast the blistering hotness of her kisses, the clenching of her muscles, her words of pure corruption, whispered in his ear like a mantra as she kept him a prisoner of her body.

Being very much capable of holding Michael’s pleasure at bay, all the while keeping herself on the verge of the precipice as well, Lisa had made him say things before his rational mind could check in and realize what the hell was going on. It had probably happened around their third round, while she was straddling him, riding him so perfectly that his breath got trapped in his throat, his lungs suddenly unable to expand.

Oh, he had confessed alright. Told her about the handfasting. Told her that the ceremony would take place at home, in their private park, under their ancient oak. That it was going to be a betrothal ritual, since their situation didn’t allow any “legal” marriage, but that being handfasted was factually equivalent to being married, united, forever. That there would be no lawyers or accountants involved, no contracts, no money. Just them. They were all that mattered.

It had all started so innocently. As her pelvis undulated against him, her hands caressing his chest, grasping his shoulders, Lisa had sat up and her naked body had stricken Michael with its intense beauty. She had tossed her hair back and had let out a long moan of pleasure, her flesh pulsing around him. Michael’s head had started to buzz.

“Why…”, she had swallowed, “…Why shouldn’t I be wearing a veil?”.

“What?”, he had managed to reply, somehow. His voice sounding foreign even to him, loaded with lust, thick, a deep baritone.

“At our wedding…”, her hips gyrating, her pelvis pushing down and Michael had flinched. The pleasure unreal in its magnitude. Lisa had whimpered.

“Because… because… I don’t like it”.

She had laughed, breathlessly, then had bent down and kissed him wildly, nipping at his bottom lip.

“Liar… and a bad one, at that”.

Her internal muscles had tightened around him and she had stilled her movements.

Michael’s hips had thrust up and Lisa had kept him pinned down, her entire body weighing on him.

“No… Don’t move. Tell me the truth… tell me what I wanna know…”.

Biting his lip, he had shaken his head.

“Nope”.

“I wanna know everything”. The slightest rotating movement of her pelvis, her mischievous smirk had made him exhale a shaky breath. “Unless you don’t wanna come… And I can tell you really… really… wanna come…”.

“You should know better than blackmailing me, woman…”. His hands had run up and down her toned, perfect thighs.

“Oh, but I’m not blackmailing you, daddy…”. She had started kissing his chest, torturing his nipples with his lips and teeth. “I just wanna be prepared, you know… perfect for you… my beautiful man… So… tell me… why I am not supposed to be wearing a veil…”.

“Shit… Because it’s bad luck…”.

“Uh-uh… How interesting is that… How so? Why is it unlucky?”.

“It’s… ah… tradition…”, another bite on his skin and he had jumped. “Ouch! Superstition, it’s about superstition!”.

Michael had heard her laugh softly, her warm breath caressing his collarbone. All the while, she had lifted her hips and he had left the sheathing hotness of her body.

“Hey!”.

She hadn’t given him the time to mourn her absence, since her mouth had started traveling down his belly, and all the while her hand had grabbed him, stroked him.

“You’re loaded alright, baby, I can tell…”, her kisses had reached a dangerous zone, and Michael had squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. “…I can feel you want this… Just like I do… Talk to me, Mike… And look at me while I make you come…”.

So, yeah, she had won. There was absolutely nothing he could do. He was only human, after all. Michael now stared at Lisa and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. His eyes were full of love, and wonderment.

“Wicked woman. But yeah. I did speak. So now you know… what’s gonna happen…”.

“Yes, I do. And it’s so romantic, Michael…”, Lisa blinked and he could see the tears shimmering behind the veil of her half-hearted playful glint. She was overwhelmed and trying to keep herself in check. Her hand reached out and caressed his cheek. “Thank you… For taking care of this… It’s just… It’s perfect”.

“You think so?”.

She smiled.

“Yeah… and now I also understand why my mother was strangely calm and OK with it. She knew….”.

“Because I called her. And this time, I asked her. No, wait… I mean… it’s not that I asked her… I told her. That I was going to marry you, that is”.

“You did what?”, Lisa giggled. This was so unlike Michael!

He just smiled, shyly, his eyes lowering. Without even thinking, Lisa kissed him again, just pressing her lips to his and inhaling his unique, irresistible scent. Michael stared at her again.

“She’s your mom, Lise. She’s always gonna be part of your life. I just wanted it to be different, this time. Especially because… we don’t need any enemies. We need as many allies as we can. We can smash enemies if and when necessary, but now we also are wise enough to know that, sometimes, we’ll have to compromise”.

“Compromise, huh?”, Lisa tilted her head to a side, studying him. “It’s so weird, hearing you say that…”.

“I’m just tired of absolutes. I’ve lived in absolutes for so long… and now I’m tired. I just want some peace”. The back of his hand stroked the outline of her face. So softly, that she almost didn’t feel it. “I just want us”.

Michael just stood there. Under the old oak, before the very simple altar. The guests, not many, all important both for him and Lisa, sat in their chairs, positioned in a circle around the consecrated area, amongst nature and the elements. The setting had been beautifully decorated with candles, lanterns, flowers and foliage of the season – courtesy of Marcus who, in this case, had worked in close cooperation with Orin – and the smell of sage filled the air. Small bells rang whenever the breeze moved them, creating the perfect melodies.

For almost his entire life, Michael had stood before hundreds of thousands of people without feeling nothing but absolute peacefulness and complete, utter calmness. Today it was different. His hands were shaking. He was tense, nervous. Just like he had been so many years earlier, when he had married Lisa for the first time. What people had seen on their TV screens was nothing but the rehearsal of their wedding.

Then Lisa appeared, from the small gazebo near the altar, and Michael forgot to breathe for a second. Nobody was accompanying her. The ceremony was for them, and them alone, but they had to enter the circle separately, and one had to invite the other in.

It was the first time Michael saw Lisa since the previous day and it felt as if he hadn’t been with her in ages. She looked stunning. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. On her face, he saw reflected the same amazement. Almost a stupor.

Lisa was dressed in ivory white, and didn’t wear a veil. The couture gown of exquisite fabric she had chosen had an outstanding design and wrapped the perfection of her body just right. She was glamorous and yet sophisticated… and a bit sexy, too. She was regal, elegant, glorious in her intensity, enhanced by her eyes which, in that very moment, were light blue, like the sea. Creating a perfect kaleidoscope of colors with her simple, yet elegant jewelry: the single-strand diamond necklace, the matching diamond halo-drop earrings and, of course, the Trinity Ruben platinum and diamond solitaire ring. Her engagement ring.

Lisa wore an elegant sheath gown that draped her beautifully. The deep, cowl neck and crystal shoulders accentuated her cleavage, while the corset-inspired back and slit in the front of the gown not only were incredibly classy, but also allowed Lisa’s beautiful legs to peek through.

Her hair was down, styled in tousled waves and loosen curls, and she had tucked a white rose in them. It matched perfectly with Michael’s boutonniere. Her make-up was minimal, very light, enhancing her radiant skin and perfect lips. She looked luminous and ethereal. Stunning. She was Michael’s dream come true. Always had been.

Lisa stopped a few steps away from Michael and they stared at each other. He smiled, holding out his hand, and she took it, finally entering the circle.

They kept their fingers entwined as they both turned toward the altar.

Orin’s playfulness had disappeared, and his massive frame now held a dramatic, solemn vibe. He let silence seep in for a moment, then spoke.

“Ethan and Lisa… today you are surrounded by your family and friends, all of whom are gathered to witness your exchange of vows and to share in the joy of this occasion. Today is a celebration. A celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, of family, and of two people who are in it forever”.

He grinned, his white smile spreading across his lips, in sheer contrast with his thick red beard.

“But let me tell you this: you don’t have to have a ceremony to have a marriage. And when you think about it, the whole thing is kind of weird, right? You’re standing here, looking fancy, feeling nervous… you’re being stared at by pretty much everyone who means everything to you. So why do we do it? Why this moment?”.

Another poignant pause and Orin looked around, his eyes scanning the guests. Michael heard someone sniffling. It was probably Janet, because she was a sap.

“Because despite all of our differences, love is what we all share. It’s the great unifier, the one universal truth. No matter who we are, where we’ve come from, what we believe, we do know this one thing: love is what we’re doing right. And that is why you both are standing here today. You are reminding us that the ability to love is the very best part of our humanity”.

A small, stifled sob. That was Paris, or maybe Riley. Could it be Cilla? Michael swallowed. No, impossible.

Orin took a long breath and smiled at Michael and Lisa.

“You fell in love by chance, but you’re here today because you’re making a choice. You both are choosing each other. You’ve chosen to be with someone who enhances you, who makes you think, makes you smile, and makes every day better, brighter. You’re about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep. You’re going to vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in the other. There’s a simple premise to each of these promises: you’re vowing to be there. You’re teaming up and saying to the other: every experience I’m going to have, I want you to be a part of it”.

Lisa’s grip on Michael’s hand tightened and he felt her tremble. He could relate. Nothing had ever felt so right.

Orin took an old book from the altar and Michael knew what was going to come. The expression of intent.

“You have chosen the ancient ritual of handfasting as your wedding ceremony today. Handfasting is a declaration of intent where the couple states that they are marrying on their own free will. The promises made today and the ties that are bound here will strengthen your union and cross the years and lives of each soul’s growth”. Orin stared at them both. “Do you seek to enter this ceremony?”.

“Yes”, Lisa and Michael replied in unison.

“Please, look into each other’s eyes and hold your hands”.

Closing his eyes for a moment, Michael turned to Lisa and she was all he saw. They lifted their joined hands and Orin handfasted them using the Bann, a woven strip of fabric, binding them together in a physical way. They were tying the knot.

The officiant took a step back.

“Ethan, will you share in Lisa’s pain and seek to alleviate it? Will you share in Lisa’s laughter and look for the brightness and the positive in her?”.

“I will”.

“Lisa, will you share in Ethan’s pain and seek to alleviate it? Will you share in Ethan’s laughter and look for the brightness and positive in him?”.

“I will”.

“And so the binding is made”, Orin stated.

Lisa smiled and blinked.

“Ethan, will you share in Lisa’s burdens so that your spirits may grow in this union? Will you share in her dreams? Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?”.

“I will”.

“Lisa, will you share in Ethan’s burdens so that your spirits may grow in this union? Will you share in his dreams? Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union?”.”.

“I will”.

“And so the binding is made”.

The breeze caressed Lisa’s long hair and Michael’s gaze got lost for a second. The scent of flowers wrapped around them, like an invisible embrace. He swallowed.

“Ethan, will you honor Lisa as an equal in this union?”.

“I will”.

“Lisa, will you honor Ethan as an equal in this union?”.

“I will”.

“And so the binding is made”.

Orin smiled, broadly now. He looked very pleased.

“Ethan and Lisa, as your hands are bound together, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust. The bond of marriage is not formed by these cords, but rather by the vows you have just made. For always you hold in your hands the fate of this union. Above you is the sky and below you is earth. Like stars your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow”. He rested his huge hands on Michael’s and Lisa’s. “May these hands be blessed this day. May they always hold each other. May they have the strength to hang on during the storms of stress and the darkness of disillusionment. May they remain tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. May they build a relationship founded on love, and rich in caring. May these hands be healer, protector, shelter, and guide for each other”.

Orin untied the knot, but Lisa and Michael kept holding hands for a little longer. Staring into Michael’s dark eyes, Lisa could tell how profoundly at peace he now looked. As if he was finally reaching his destination. She was, too.

They were home.

“I will now ask you to seal the vows you share with each other by the giving and receiving of rings. The perfect circle of the ring symbolizes eternity, with no beginning and no end… But these rings did have a beginning. The stones were formed a long time ago, deep within the earth. Eventually, a series of lucky events caused them to rise to the surface, where someone dug them up. Metal was then liquefied, molded, cooled, and painstakingly polished. Something beautiful was made from raw elements. Love is like that… it comes from humble beginnings, made by imperfect beings. It is the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all…”.

Orin held out his hand and opened it. On his palm stood Michael’s and Lisa’s wedding rings: two precious, and yet simple, hammered ellipse bands.

“As you look at these rings over the years, I hope you remember that. You’ve created something invaluable, and just as I know you’ll protect these rings, I’m confident you’ll protect the commitments you’ve made to one another today”.

Orin’s head turned to Michael as he took his ring, his hand shaking.

“Ethan, please pronounce your vows”.

Michael took a deep breath. The words he had written down on a notepad the night before clear in his mind, like an open book. And so honest.

“Lisa, I take you to be my wife. I love you unconditionally and without hesitation. It is your heart that moves me, your spirit that inspires me, your humor that delights me, and your hand I want to hold for all of our days… You are my partner, my lover, my best friend. Today, I promise you this: I will laugh with you, cry with you. I will honor the divinity in you, of you, and around you. I will be your kin and your partner in all of life’s adventures. I will love you when we are together and when we are apart…”, he took another breath, finding refuge and shelter in her blue eyes, that were holding his gaze, never letting him go. “I promise to support your dreams and to accept our differences, and to be by your side through all the days and nights of our lives. I promise to love, respect and trust you, and give you the best of myself, because I know that together we will build a life far better than either of us could imagine alone. Loving what I know of you… and trusting what I don’t yet know… I give you my hand. I give you my love. I give you myself”.

Michael put the ring on Lisa’s finger and looked up at her. Her eyes shone, her bottom lip trembled. He resisted the urge to reach out and stroke her face.

“Will you give me yourself? Will you come travel with me?”. He hoped his voice could convey not only what he was saying, but also what remained unsaid.

Lisa’s eyes fluttered closed as she nodded her head.

“I will”.

Sniffling, she took the other ring from Orin’s palm. The officiant smiled.

“Please, Lisa, pronounce your vows”.

She took Michael’s hand. It was warm, soft. Comforting. Their eyes locked one more time.

“I choose you. To stand by your side and sleep in your arms. To be joy to your heart and food to your soul. To love you, encourage you, trust you, and respect you. To learn with you and grow with you, even as time and life change us both. I promise to laugh with you in good times and struggle alongside you in bad times. I promise to always be your biggest fan and your partner in crime…”, she smiled, biting her lip. Michael blinked, pushing back the tears, smirking back at her.

“I promise to respect you and cherish you as an individual, a partner, and an equal, knowing that we do not only complete, but complement each other…”. She sighed. “Baby… I love you with all my heart. I accept you as you are, and I offer myself in return. I will care for you, stand beside you, and share with you all of life’s adversities and all of its joys from this day forward, and all the days of my life. I vow not just to grow old together, but to grow together. I will love you faithfully through the difficult and the easy. What may come, I will always be there, knowing that love never dies. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep”.

She put the ring on Michael’s finger.

Michael was speechless. In Lisa’s words were all the things he knew she would have told him when they were apart. When she thought he was gone, and probably even before that. Her words were born from silence, and now had found their voice. And he heard them all, loud and clear.

Orin cleared his throat.

“Well, I hope we haven’t talked so long that people finished their drinks, because this is a celebration, and every celebration needs a toast. So… to wrap this up before a delicious dinner and lots of dancing… Ethan and Lisa, on behalf of all those present, and by the strength of your love, I pronounce you married. You may seal your vows with a kiss”.

This time, Michael did reach out. His hand rested on Lisa’s cheek, and she leaned into his touch. Her hands framed his face and he stepped closer, kissing her. Feeling her sigh against his lips, her fingers tangling in his hair. They closed their eyes and barely heard the guests cheer and applaud.

Chapter song